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Regional Westie Restaurant in World Top 50!

If you are familiar with Melbourne favourite Attica, then you’ll know that Ben Shewry’s multi-award winning Ripponlea restaurant became Australia’s first to make the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and this year has climbed the rankings to number 32.

What you might not know is that joining Attica in the coveted Top 50 this year is Ottway Hinterland hideaway Brae – sweeping into 44th place. We are claiming it – it is most definitely in the West!!

Brae is the first venture of The Age Good Food Guide’s 2012 Chef of The Year, Dan Hunter. Taking cues from the countryside around him, Hunter’s menu is wild, organic and ever-changing. The daily set menu is created based around produce from Brae’s own organic gardens, supplemented by local, sustainable and ethical farms.

And it’s not only the fresh produce that is locally sourced. If you aren’t too busy being romanced by the food, you might also notice the beautiful ceramic tableware, designed and crafted in Abbotsford by Cone 11 duo Ilona Topolcsanyi and Colin Hopkins. And if plates aren’t your thing, trust me – head over to their website and check out their lighting!!

The set degustation menu is available for dinner from Thursday to Saturday, and lunch Saturday – Monday. A degustation is not an everyday dining experience, nor is it priced to be, but Brae is certainly no more expensive than most top Melbourne’s restaurants in this regard.

Making the most of it’s location, Brae welcomes guests to stay overnight, offering 6 luxury suites and free roaming of the beautiful grounds. With supper plates and breakfast available, Brae could be the weekend getaway to end all getaways! If you are feeling super fancy, there are a range of services available to transport you to foodie heaven, including chauffeured cars and limousine, and if you really want to impress, you can also travel direct to Brae by helicopter.